warm
Americanadjective
-
having or giving out a moderate degree of heat, as perceived by the senses.
a warm bath.
- Antonyms:
- cool
-
of or at a moderately high temperature; characterized by comparatively high temperature.
a warm oven; a warm climate; a warm summer.
- Antonyms:
- cool
-
having a sensation of bodily heat.
to be warm from fast walking.
- Antonyms:
- cool
-
conserving or maintaining warmth or heat.
warm clothes.
-
(of colors) suggestive of warmth; inclining toward red or orange rather than toward green or blue.
-
characterized by or showing lively feelings, passions, emotions, sympathies, etc..
a warm heart; warm interest.
-
strongly attached; intimate.
warm friends.
-
cordial or hearty.
a warm welcome.
- Synonyms:
- fervent
- Antonyms:
- aloof, unfriendly
-
heated, irritated, or angry.
to become warm when contradicted.
-
animated, lively, brisk, or vigorous.
a warm debate.
- Synonyms:
- vehement
-
strong or fresh.
a warm scent.
-
close to something sought, as in a game.
-
uncomfortable or unpleasant.
His opponents made things so warm that he decided to quit.
-
British Informal. well off; in easy circumstances.
verb (used with object)
-
to make warm; heat (often followed byup ).
to warm one's hands; to warm up a room.
-
to heat or cook (something) for reuse, as leftovers (usually followed by over orup ).
to warm up yesterday's stew.
-
to excite enthusiasm, ardor, cheerfulness, or vitality in (someone).
The wine soon warmed the company.
-
to inspire with kindly feeling; affect with lively pleasure.
It warms my soul to hear you say that.
-
to fill (a person, crowd, etc.) with strong feelings, as hatred, anger, or zeal.
Restrictions had warmed the crew to the point of mutiny.
verb (used without object)
-
to become warm or warmer (often followed byup ).
The room will warm up when the fire gets going.
-
to become ardent, enthusiastic, animated, etc. (often followed by up orto ).
The speaker quickly warmed to her subject.
-
to grow kindly, friendly, or sympathetically disposed (often followed by to ortoward ).
My heart warms toward him.
noun
idioms
adjective
-
characterized by or having a moderate degree of heat; moderately hot
-
maintaining or imparting heat
a warm coat
-
having or showing ready affection, kindliness, etc
a warm personality
-
lively, vigorous, or passionate
a warm debate
-
cordial or enthusiastic; ardent
warm support
-
quickly or easily aroused
a warm temper
-
(of colours) predominantly red or yellow in tone
-
(of a scent, trail, etc) recently made; strong
-
near to finding a hidden object or discovering or guessing facts, as in children's games
-
informal uncomfortable or disagreeable, esp because of the proximity of danger
verb
-
(sometimes foll by up) to raise or be raised in temperature; make or become warm or warmer
-
to make or become excited, enthusiastic, etc (about)
he warmed to the idea of buying a new car
-
to feel affection, kindness, etc (for someone)
I warmed to her mother from the start
-
(tr) to give a caning to
I'll warm you in a minute
noun
-
informal a warm place or area
come into the warm
-
informal the act or an instance of warming or being warmed
Other Word Forms
- overwarmed adjective
- prewarm verb (used with object)
- rewarm verb
- unwarmed adjective
- unwarming adjective
- warmer noun
- warmish adjective
- warmly adverb
- warmness noun
- well-warmed adjective
Etymology
Origin of warm
First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective werm, warm, wearm(e), Old English wearm; cognate with German warm, Old Norse varmr; akin to Latin formus “warm,” Greek thermós “warm,” Sanskrit gharmá- “heat,” Avestan garəma “hot,” Old Prussian gorme “heat,” Armenian ǰerm “warm”; the verb is akin to the adjective; the noun is derivative of the verb
Vocabulary lists containing warm
Visual Arts - Introductory
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Visual Arts - High School
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Visual Arts - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But before you go hustling this half-million-dollar bison through the cones at the school drop-off, be sure to warm up the tires.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
"This includes instances of extreme weather such as heavy rainfall events or very warm summers triggering earlier than expected surges, suggesting an increasing unpredictability in their behavior."
From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026
What’s more, the warm ocean waters could increase the chances of hurricanes and tropical storms forming off the coast of Mexico.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
The artificial-intelligence chip leader looks to have finally broken through long-held resistance at around $195 as investors warm again to the AI theme.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
He bounded back toward the red-shoed girl and held the unearthed roots of the fallen log, searching for another way to warm her.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
